Cutting apparatus for corn detasseling and soybean harvesting

ABSTRACT

A cutting apparatus for use in detasseling stalks of corn and in harvesting soybeans. A cutter is mounted to a corn harvester or soybean combine and has a first disk slidingly contacting a pair of disks spaced apart. The first disk is rotatably mounted to a first tube and is rotatably driven. The pair of disks are mounted to a second tube parallel with and spaced apart from the first tube by a cross member. The pair of disks are rotatably driven at a speed and direction different from that of the first disk. Each disk has serrated edges. Gathering fingers are radially mounted to the disks and arms project outwardly from the tubes forming a funnel.

United States Patent Meharry [1 1 3,654,751 [451 Apr. 11, 1972 [54]CUTTING APPARATUS FOR CORN DETASSELIN G AND SOYBEAN HARVESTING [72]Inventor: James L. Mehan'y, Wingate, Ind.

[73] Assignee: Societe Nationale Des Petroles D'Aquitaine,

Paris, France FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,341,363 9/1963 France..56/157 Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N.Eskovitz Attorney-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT Acutting apparatus for use in detasseling stalks of corn and inharvesting soybeans. A cutter is mounted to a corn harvester or soybeancombine and has a first disk slidingly contacting a pair of disks spacedapart. The first disk is rotatably mounted to a first tube and isrotatably driven. The pair of disks are mounted to a second tubeparallel with and spaced apart from the first tube by a cross member.The pair of disks are rotatably driven at a speed and directiondifferent from that of the first disk. Each disk has serrated edges.Gathering fingers are radially mounted to the disks and arms projectoutwardly from the tubes forming a funnel.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 11 m2 3,654,751

SHEET 1 UF- 2 llnmlv- "h 3 "mil o r II" i I INVENTOR.

JAMES L. MEHRRRV ATTORN EY8 PATENTEBAPR 11 I972 3. 654. 751

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JAMES L. MEHARRY F ig.5 I a/m a/M,W m

AT TORNETYS CUTTING APPARATUS FOR CORN DETASSELING AND SOYBEANHARVESTING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention Thisinvention is in the field of cutting devices.

Description of the Prior Art Applicant is aware of at least five priorfarm implements which utilize disks or wheels for harvesting purposes.These devices are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. Nos: 1,539,346issued to Bird; 1,608,107 issued to Loifer; 2,550,144 issued toFlintjer; 3,398,515 issued to Ash; and, 3,462,927 issued to Quick.

The Flintjer device is designed for severing beets and uses a pair ofcutting disks with sharp edges. The other devices disclosed in thepreviously mentioned patents are designed to cut stalks. Many of theseprior art devices utilize a pair of overlapping disks with the resultthat the item being cut is twisted from a vertical position to asomewhat sideways or horizontal position.

The pollen in a stalk of corn is located in the tassel at the top of thestalk and is very susceptible to being removed from the stalk by a forcesuch as wind. It can be appreciated that when gathering the pollen witha machine the pollen may fall to the ground instead of into a containerif the stalk is violently moved or twisted from a vertical position to ahorizontal position. The present invention provides a pair of diskswhich abut the top and bottom surfaces of a single disk so as to removethe tassel from the stalk in such a manner that the pollen will bedeposited in a container. The invention disclosed herein may also beutilized in the gathering of soybeans from a field. Soybeans arerelatively fragile and will shatter or fall from the plant if the plantis moved violently. The cutter disclosed herein is mountable to asoybean combine with the disks previously described being operable todeposit the soybeans into the combine without shattering the soybeans orwithout allowing the soybeans to drop onto the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a cutting apparatuscomprising a first frame, a first disk mounted to said frame and havinga first fixed axis of rotation, said disk having a circumferential outerportion with a top and bottom surface, a second and third disk parallelto said first disk being mounted to said frame and having a single fixedaxis of rotation parallel to but spaced from said first axis, saidsecond disk having a bottom surface contacting said top surface of saidouter portion and said third disk having an upper surface contactingsaid bottom surface of said outer portion, and, power means operable torotate said first disk at a first speed in a first direction and torotate said second and third disks at a speed and direction differentthan said first speed and said first direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cutter which isoperable to gently remove tassels from stalks of corn.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a cutterwhich is operable to gently gather soybeans.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved cutting apparatus having a first rotating disk in contact onits upper and lower surfaces with a pair of rotating disks.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a partial bottom view of thecutter of FIG. 3 viewed in the direction of arrows 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the cutter of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For the purposes of promotingan understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will nowbe made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawing and specificlanguage will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless beunderstood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is therebyintended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrateddevice, and such further applications of the principles of the inventionas illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to oneskilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is partially shown acorn harvester 10 having a main frame 11 with wheels 12 rotatablymounted thereto. A container 13 is mounted to frame 11 by conventionalbrackets not shown. All sides and ends of container 13 are closed withthe exception of the top end 14 which is opened. Frame 11 has a pair ofvertical bars 62 and 63 spaced apart and fixedly secured to horizontalbar 64. Fixedly secured to horizontal bar 64 by welding or othersuitable means is plate 65 which has cutter 15 removably mountedthereto.

Cutter 15 has a pair of parallel tubes 16 and 17 spaced apart andconnected together by cross member 18. A pair of mounting brackets 19(FIGS. 1 and 3) are secured to tubes 16 and 17 by welding or othersuitable means and have flanged ends with holes provided thereon forreceiving conventional fastening devices 20 (FIG. 1) which arethreadedly received by a pair of arms secured to plate 65. Cutter 15 maybe removed from harvester 10 by unthreading bolts 20. It is understoodthat the cutter may be secured to harvester 10 in an infinite number ofdifferent methods. In one embodiment, hydraulic motors mounted to theharvester were connected to the cutter so as to allow for controlledmovement between frame 11 and cutter 15.

Tubes 16 and 17 (FIG. 3) are hollow and identical, each having a shaftextending therethrough. Shaft 48 is rotatably mounted within tube 16fragmented at locations 68 and 69, having bearings 49 and 50 securedthereto. The bottom end 52 of shaft 48 passes through disks 22 and 23and is threadedly received by hub 70. Shaft 48 has a keyway not shownwhich lockingly receives keys formed in disks 22 and 23 therebypreventing relative motion between the shaft and the disks. The top end51 of shaft 48 is operably connected to power means 32 so as to berotatable. Disks 22 and 23 and shaft 48 are rotatable about axis 27which extends longitudinally through the center of shaft 48. Disks 22and 23 are secured together by bolts 36 having shanks freely received bydisks 22 and 23, spacers 37 and threadedly received by nuts 71. Bolts 36are spaced around the disks to ensure that all portions of each disk arespaced uniformly apart. A center spacer 67 freely receives shaft 48 andhas the same thickness as spacers 37. Disks 21, 22, and 23 are parallelas are axes 26 and 27. Disks 22 and 23 are spaced apart a distance equalto the thickness of disk 21 which is mounted to the bottom end 55 ofshaft 53. The bottom end 55 has a keyway for lockingly receiving a keyformed in disk 21 and is threaded so as to receive hub 70 for securingdisk 21 to shaft 53. Shaft 53 extends through tube 17 and is rotatablymounted in bearings at the top and bottom of the tube in a manneridentical to that previously described for shaft 48.

Disk 21 has a top surface 29 which is in sliding contact with the bottomsurface 30 of disk 22. Disk 21 also has a bottom surface 29' which is insliding contact with the upper surface 31 of disk 23. FIG. 4 is apartial bottom view of the cutter of FIG. 3 viewed in the direction ofarrows 4-4 showing that only the outer circumferential portion 28 ofdisk 21 engages disks 22 and 23. Disk 23 is broken away at area 72 toshow spacer 37 and bolt 36. Shaft 53 (FIG. 3) has a top end 54 connectedto power means 32 and is rotatable about axis 26 which extends throughtube 17 and is parallel with axis 27. Disk 21 is rotatable about axis 26in a direction of arrow 34 (FIG. 4) whereas disks 22 and 23 arerotatable about axis 27 in the direction of arrow 33.

A pair of hydraulic motors 56 and 57 are mounted atop the upper flangedends respectively of tubes 16 and 17 and are operably connected toshafts 48 and 53. A source of pressurized fluid is connected to motor 57via tube 59. The fluid passes through motor 57 exiting through tube 58wherein it is then utilized to power motor 56 and returned to the sourceof pressurized fluid via tube 60. It has been found desirable to rotatedisk 21 at an approximate speed of 450 revolutions per minute whereasdisks 22 and 23 are rotated at an approximate speed of 850 revolutionsper minute. As previously explained, disk 21 rotates in the direction ofarrow 34 (FIG. 3) whereas disks 22 and 23 rotate in the oppositedirection as shown by arrow 33. The different speeds of the disks allowsliding motion to exist between disk 21 and the pair of disks 22 and 23thereby providing a better cutting action and ensuring that items do notbecome trapped between the disks. The outer edges 35 of disks 21, 22 and23 are serrated so as to provide a gripping action. A variety of otherpower means 32 may be utilized to rotate the disks. For example, anelectric motor may be mounted to some portion of frame 25 of cutter 15being operably connected to shafts 48 and 53 through suitable gearingand chains. Of course, the disks would still be rotated in oppositedirections at different speeds. Other power means could include astandard belt-pulley arrangement.

A plurality of fingers 38 (FIGS. 3 and 4) are mounted to disk 21 and arespaced away from the bottom surface 29 of the disk by spacers 74 adistance equal to the thickness of disk 23. Bolts 75 have shanks passingfreely through spacers 74 being threadedly received in disk 21. Thesefingers extend radially from shaft 53 and are spaced from the bottomsurface of disk 21 so as to not interfere with or touch disk 23. Similarfingers 76 are mounted to the top surface of disk 22 by bolts 77 andextend radially from shaft 48. As cutter 15 is moved across the field,the products being harvested are swept between the disks in thedirection of arrow 73 by fingers 38 and 76.

A pair of clamps 42 (FIG. 3) embrace each tube, each having flanged endsfor receiving standard fastening devices 44. Clamps 42 are adjustablealong the length of tubes 16 and 17 by first loosening devices 44.Fastened to the inward walls 43 of clamps 42 are two arms 40 havingtheir proximal ends 41 secured to walls 43 by welding or other suitablemeans. Each arm 40 (FIG. has an elbow 45 spaced outwardly and in frontof tubes 16 and 17. The arms slope downwardly from their proximal endsto their spaced-apart distal ends 46 so as to form a funnel 47, throughwhich the products being harvested are directed. Arms 40 slope backtoward cutter from elbows 45 to distal ends 46.

A pair of guards 61 are mounted to clamps 42 at 78 extending downwardinto a half-moon configuration 80 adjacent to the outward side of disks21, 22 and 23. In many cases, the disks are positioned quite high offthe ground such as is shown in FIG. 1 by dimension h. For example, whengathering tassels from cars of corn the disks are positionedapproximately 6 feet above the ground so as to gather the tassels fromthe stalk. Thus, it is possible for a person to accidentally touch thedisks. Guards 61 extend around the outward side of the disks therebypreventing a person from accidentally touching the disks. The guards arenot necessary when harvesting soybeans and may therefore be removed byremoval of fastening devices 44 and replacement of clamp 42 with a clampnot having a guard attached thereon.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of a combine 81 with a cutter attachedthereto for harvesting soybeans. Typically, soybean combines 81 have atrough with a bottom wall 82 positioned immediately over the ground forcatching the soybean plants and conveying them to an auger 84 rotatablymounted within the trough which routes the soybean plants to a centrallocation for separation. Cutter 15 is mounted in front of the trough soas to position the disks immediately in front of and partially over wall82 and parallel with the ground at an approximate height of 5 inchesabove the ground. A variety of methods may be utilized to mount cutter15 to combine 81. For example, a

bar 85 may be fastened to the side walls 86 and 87 of the trough and themounting brackets 19 (FIG. 3) may then be secured to bar 85 byconventional fastening devices. It should be understood, however, thatmany other methods may be utilized to mount the cutter to the soybeancombine and that the above description does not limit the presentinvention.

A variety of materials may be utilized to produce cutter 15. In oneembodiment, the disks were made of spring steel which was hardened forwearability. Tubes 16 and 17 were produced from stock tubing having anoutside diameter of approximately 4 inches. The tubes were approximately11 inches long and each disk was approximately 10 inches in diameterwith a 5/8 inch overlap of disk 21 with respect to disks 22 and 23. Inthe same embodiment, shafts 48 and 53 had diameters of approximately 1inch and were produced from cold rolled steel.

The arms 40 on cutter 15 as previously mentioned are adjustable alongthe length of tubes 16 and 17. Best results have been obtained bypositioning the distal ends 46 (FIG. 5) of the arms 40 above disks 21,22 and 23 when harvesting soybeans (FIGS. 2 and 3). On the other hand,when harvesting the pollen from corn stalks, it has been determined thatit is best to position the distal ends 46 of arms 40 beneath disks 21,22 and 23 (FIGS. 1 and 5). Whereas the arms 40 gather the stalks orsoybeans in a row, the fingers attached to the disks allow for asweeping action to ensure that all of the stalks or soybeans aregathered between the blades.

It will be evident from the above description that the present inventionprovides a cutter which is operable to gently remove the tassel fromstalks of com. It will be further evident from the above descriptionthat the cutter is also operable to gather soybeans. While the inventionhas been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings andforegoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative andnot restrictive, it being understood that only the preferred embodimentshave been shown and that all changes and modifications that come withinthe spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. A cutting apparatus comprising:

a first frame;

a first disk mounted to said frame and having a first fixed axis ofrotation, said disk having a circumferential outer portion with a topand bottom surface;

a second and third disk parallel to said first disk being mounted tosaid frame and having a single fixed axis of rotation parallel to butspaced from said first axis, said second disk having a bottom surfacecontacting said top surface of said outer portion and said third diskhaving an upper surface contacting said bottom surface of said outerportion; and,

power means operable to rotate said first disk at a first speed in afirst direction and to rotate said second and third disks at a speed anddirection different than said first speed and said first direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said frame has a first and second tube with a cross member fixedlyattached thereto, said first axis extends through said first tube andsaid single axis extends through said second tube;

said second and third disks are secured together preventing relativemotion therebetween; and,

said first, second and third disks have outer serrated edges.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising:

first fingers radially mounted to said first disk;

second fingers radially mounted to said second disk; and,

a pair of arms having upper proximal ends mounted to said frame andlower distal ends positioned adjacent said first, second and thirddisks, said arms forming a funnel to said first, second and third disks.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising:

mounting brackets fastened to said first and second tube;

a first shaft rotatably mounted in and extending through said first tubeand having a bottom end with said first disk secured thereto and a topend connected to said power means;

a second shaft rotatably mounted in and extending through said secondtube having a bottom end with said second and third disks securedthereto and a top end connected to said power means; and,

a spacer mounted between said second and third disks.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein:

said power means is a first hydraulic motor connected to said firstshaft and a second hydraulic motor connected to said second shaft, saidpower means having a pressurized fluid routed through said first motorand then through said second motor.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 additionally comprising:

guards mounted to said first and second tubes outwardly and adjacentsaid disks.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising:

a vehicle having a second frame with wheels rotatably mounted thereto;

a container mounted to said second frame and having an open top; andwherein:

said mounting brackets are connected to said second frame so as toposition said first, second and third disks parallel with the ground andimmediately in front of said container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein:

said distal ends of said arms are positioned beneath said first, secondand third disks; and,

said vehicle is a corn harvester.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 additionally comprising:

a vehicle having an open front scoop portion with a bottom wall and anauger rotatably mounted therein and wherein:

said mounting brackets are connected to said vehicle so as to positionsaid first, second and third disks partially over and in front of saidwall.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

said vehicle is a soybean combine.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTEFICATE @F CORRECTWN Patent No. x 54 751Dated April ll 1972 Invent0r( James L.' Meharry It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Please delete, in the Heading the following "Assignee:

Societe Nationale Des Petroles D'Aquitaine, Paris,

France" Signed and sealed this 3rd day of October 1972.:

(SEAL) Attes t:

EDWARD mFLETcaEs ,JR.

Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O375-P59 US.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I959 L' 16$-33-|

1. A cutting apparatus comprising: a first frame; a first disk mountedto said frame and having a first fixed axis of rotation, said disKhaving a circumferential outer portion with a top and bottom surface; asecond and third disk parallel to said first disk being mounted to saidframe and having a single fixed axis of rotation parallel to but spacedfrom said first axis, said second disk having a bottom surfacecontacting said top surface of said outer portion and said third diskhaving an upper surface contacting said bottom surface of said outerportion; and, power means operable to rotate said first disk at a firstspeed in a first direction and to rotate said second and third disks ata speed and direction different than said first speed and said firstdirection.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said frame has a firstand second tube with a cross member fixedly attached thereto, said firstaxis extends through said first tube and said single axis extendsthrough said second tube; said second and third disks are securedtogether preventing relative motion therebetween; and, said first,second and third disks have outer serrated edges.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2 additionally comprising: first fingers radially mounted to saidfirst disk; second fingers radially mounted to said second disk; and, apair of arms having upper proximal ends mounted to said frame and lowerdistal ends positioned adjacent said first, second and third disks, saidarms forming a funnel to said first, second and third disks.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 and further comprising: mounting brackets fastenedto said first and second tube; a first shaft rotatably mounted in andextending through said first tube and having a bottom end with saidfirst disk secured thereto and a top end connected to said power means;a second shaft rotatably mounted in and extending through said secondtube having a bottom end with said second and third disks securedthereto and a top end connected to said power means; and, a spacermounted between said second and third disks.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4wherein: said power means is a first hydraulic motor connected to saidfirst shaft and a second hydraulic motor connected to said second shaft,said power means having a pressurized fluid routed through said firstmotor and then through said second motor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5additionally comprising: guards mounted to said first and second tubesoutwardly and adjacent said disks.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6additionally comprising: a vehicle having a second frame with wheelsrotatably mounted thereto; a container mounted to said second frame andhaving an open top; and wherein: said mounting brackets are connected tosaid second frame so as to position said first, second and third disksparallel with the ground and immediately in front of said container. 8.The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said distal ends of said arms arepositioned beneath said first, second and third disks; and, said vehicleis a corn harvester.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5 additionallycomprising: a vehicle having an open front scoop portion with a bottomwall and an auger rotatably mounted therein and wherein: said mountingbrackets are connected to said vehicle so as to position said first,second and third disks partially over and in front of said wall.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein: said vehicle is a soybean combine.